Conrad Sangma in Manipur: Peace & talks must prevail, not division

Guwahati: Meghalaya chief minister and National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad K Sangma, a key NDA ally, has made a politically significant intervention in Manipur’s crisis with a visit to the strife-torn state.Sangma positioned his party as a bridge-builder for peace, firmly rejecting calls for bifurcation of Manipur while urging all communities to engage in inclusive dialogue.During his two-day outreach, Sangma met with civil society organisations (CSOs), internally displaced persons (IDPs), affected by the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups that has claimed over 260 lives since May 2023.He later met governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, conveying a set of actionable suggestions from stakeholders on what the Centre must do to restore normality in a state currently under President’s rule. He described the meeting as “positive and constructive discussions” aimed at restoring normality, long-term peace and stability.Sangam’s visit has come at a time when the BJP MLAs of the state are camping in New Delhi, demanding formation of a popular govt in the state which has been under President’s rule since Feb.“We have been clear from day one, and our state-level leaders have made our stand clear that the territorial integrity of Manipur is something that the National People’s Party believes in, and we are not here to compromise on that,” Sangma said in Imphal on Friday.The call for a separate administration by Kuki-Zo organisations has evolved into a push for Union Territory status with legislative powers, which has become central to peace negotiations.Sangma emphasised that while administrative reforms and governance models can be discussed within the framework of Manipur’s territorial integrity, any move to divide the state would be unacceptable. “Discussions can be had on how certain administrations could function, but looking at a completely separate administration is not our stand,” he said.He added that dialogue is essential and emphasised that a “meeting point can be reached — but it requires political will, sincere engagement, and a shared commitment from all stakeholders”. He appealed to all communities that the suffering has gone on for far too long, and innocent people across Manipur continue to bear the brunt of this crisis and so “it is the responsibility of all communities and all leaders to find a way forward.”“We urge all communities to come together and discuss the issues on the table. If we keep sticking to positions, we will never move forward,” Sangma said, appealing to stakeholders to prioritise dialogue over division.The NPP chief also reiterated his party’s identity as a regional force rooted in the northeast. “We are the only national party made purely by the states of the northeast. Our ears are on the ground, and we act based on the voices of the people,” he said.Asserting NPP’s northeast identity, Sangma framed it as a party that was born in Manipur and “made by the people of the northeast for the people of northeast” contrasting it with national parties driven by high-command structures.“And therefore we are working hard to ensure that National People's Party grows from strength to strength. We feel that there is a strong vacuum with the National People's Party in a good position to come in and take that vacuum,” he said, signalling NPP’s intent to position itself as a stabilising force — one that rejects division and champions unity through dialogue.